Presentation of the Office (OHCHR) Annual appeal, High Commissioner speak that “in the midst of a time of great global crisis and upheaval, this funding will be critical to protecting, promoting and sustaining human rights everywhere in the world.”
As for Miss Bachelet, “no matter how free individuals speak and protest, they are not truly free if they lack adequate food, education or housing.. ”
As such, she ensures that “the protection and promotion of economic, cultural and social rights will continue to be another core focus” of OHCHR’s work.
As the world enters the third year of COVID-19 She said her Office is also committed to combating inequality caused by the crisis and supporting marginalized groups that have been marginally affected.
Expense
The High Commissioner then explained how the funds could be used, including in support of the United Nations Secretary-General’s vision of a “renewed social contract tied to human rights”, as outlined in the report. his landmark report”Our Common Agenda”.
The money will also strengthen efforts to put human rights at the heart of COVID-19 response and recovery, and continue to advocate for equal access to vaccines.
OHCHR also plans to increase its focus to highlight the rights of people of African descent, as detailed in Transformative Change Agenda for Racial Equity and Equality
“Reversing systemic racism and increasing accountability for law enforcement officials involved in the deaths of people of African descent, will be at the core of this work.”, said the Head of Human Rights.
Region
With a presence in 103 countries, the High Commissioner ensures that her Office will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen, promote and protect human rights around the world.
She then highlights a number of improvements that the full funding will help support.
In the Americas, OHCHR will strengthen its capabilities in Peru, Haitianand English speaking Caribbean, as well as monitor the situation of more than six millionVenezuelan migrants and refugees .
In Africa, they will open a new office inBurkina Faso and continue to promote human rights inChad as part of the Government’s roadmap and the National Inclusion Dialogue.
ThroughoutSahelIn the region, where temperatures are rising 1.5 times faster than the global average, they will expand their efforts to address huge human rights challenges, with a focus on the right to food.
Incentral Asia, they will combat growing racism by increasing digital outreach and two International Human Rights Advisors will be deployed toKazakhstanandTajikistan.
InIraq, where OHCHR has trained about 200 human rights defenders, bloggers and journalists, it will expand its cyber defense efforts and work to provide more protection for journalists at risk.
InSyria, they would go on to join the issue of more than 100,000 people still missing or incarcerated during more than a decade of civil war.
And inEthiopiaandFiji, OHCHR plans to create two more emergency response teams, in addition to the six already stationed globally.
Budget
As Ms. Bachelet explains, her Office relies heavily on voluntary donations, which last year accounted for about 62% of the total budget.
In 2021, the United Nations Human Rights call amounted to $385.5 million. In total, 89 donors, covering 59 Countries, donated $227.4 million.
These funds are “insufficient”, according to Ms Bachelet, due to the additional needs that crises such as COVID-19 and protracted conflicts have revealed.
© UNOCHA / Gema Cortes
Venezuelan migrants return to their country from Colombia.
